The prevalence of hepatitis A in children in British Columbia.

Background: The risk of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection during childhood is difficult to estimate without population serosurveys because HAV-related symptoms are often mild at this age. Few serosurveys have been conducted in Canada. The present study surveyed teenagers in two nonurban regions of British Columbia where the historical rate of reported HAV either exceeded (region A) or was less than (region B) the historical provincial rate.